Helmet



Nov. l, 1932.

O. S. FLOOD HELMET Filed March '8, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 1, 1932.

HELMET Filed March 8, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet v2 u I I'llll .I!

Patented Nov. 1, 1932 3 eyes of different users.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE osoan s. noon, or'cmoaeo, IIILINOIS, Assmnon 'ro sELLs'rnom mammac'rumne COMPANY, or CHICAGO, LLINoIs, a CORPORATION or ILLINOIS HELMET Application filed March a, 1929. Serial No. 845,561.

This invention relates to a helmet and has special reference to a helmet for use in protecting the eyes of an operator against heat, bright light and actinic rays and in protecting the head generally from sparks and foreign substances when welding or working at other industries requiring such protection,

More particularly, this invention relates to a helmet for use as indicated above, made of a non-inflammable, non-heat conducting material such as sheet fibre, the helmet being adapted to encompass the entire face and part of the head of the user.

The nature of the work with which the device of' this invention is associated requires that the helmet be readily and universally adjustable; that is, the helmet propor being movable out of alignment with the eyes and returnable thereto when desired by simple manipulation, the harness for holding the helmet on the head being adjustable to fit the 'head of various operators, and the helmet proper being adjustable horizontally and vertically for focusing the same for the Also, inasmuch as the welding lens is of an expensive material, a simple, inexpensive and efiicient construction is provided for protecting the lens from ipjury. due to foreign substances violently given off from the welding arc and the like.

\One of the. objects of this invention is to provide an improved helmet of the class described formed of a non-inflammable, nonheat conducting material which protects the a head from heat and the eyes from the welding arc, foreign substances such as spatter- 7 ing of metal, flying sparks and the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide a helmet as above referred to wherein the body portion thereof is universally adjustable relative to the harness for holding the helmet to the head of the wearer.

provide an improvedconstruction for protecting the welding lens of a helmet of the above mentionedtype and for preventing seepage of injurious light rays around the edges of the lens.

A still further object of this invention: is

to provide a chin rest for a helmet of the inafter be more fully described and for a.

more complete understanding of the characteristic features of this invention, reference may be had to the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which latter:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the helmet constructed in accordance with the present invention and taken from the front side thereof.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of Fig. 1 taken from the rear thereof. v

Fig. 3 is a central vertical sectional view of the device shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view ofa lens retaining member.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken onthe line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of an arm member for adjustable connection between the body portion of the helmet and the head harness.

Fig. Sis a sectionalview taken on the line 88 of Fig. 3. v 5 Referring now more .particularly to the drawings, a body portion 10 is provided pref-. erably of a non-inflammable, non-heat conducting material such as sheet fibre, the helmet being adapted to cover the entire face and part of the head of the user. The body portion is box-like in shape having an open face andconverging side walls 11 and upper and lower walls 11a. The body portion is provided on its closed end with a suitable sight .opening 12 in proper position to be in a a substantial line with the eyes of the ordi- A further object of this invention is to I portions thereof removed and the ed es surrounding the cutaway portions being rought together and secured as by means .of rivets 13. This produces the hereinbefore mentioned converging side, upper and lower walls Y11 and 11a, the .lower wall extending under the chin of the wearer and the upper wall covering a part of the head of the wearer. The side walls extend rearwardly to cover the cheeks and ears of the wearer.

As before mentioned, the nature of the work requires that the helmet by readily and universally adjustable and, therefore, the body portion 10, is pivotally and slidably (in both a vertical and horizontal direction) secured to a head harness 14. The securing relation' between the body portion of the helmet and the head harness provides that the helmet may be moved to a position such that the eyes of the wearer are inexact alignment with the sight opening 12. It is readily apotherwise and the lenses on the sight opening,

therefore, out of focus with the eyes.

The'head harness comprises a split band' 15 for encircling the head of the wearer, the two end portions thereof having longitudinally extending slots 16 and 17. The ends of the split band 15 are brought into an overlapping relation such that the slots 16 and 17 register, whereafter a securing means is extended through the registered slots such, for example, as the screw bolt 18 extending from the rear side of the bandand having a knurled thumb-nut for engaging the outer threaded end portion on the outsideof the band.

In order to prevent the split band 15 from moving downwardly on the head of the wearer, a strap 19 is provided, the strap having one end thereof secured to the split band preferably substantially centrally of the two ends. This strap member'19 extends over and engages with the top of the head when in position, the free end thereof being slotted as at 20 to, register with the registered slots 16 and 17-and to receive the screw member 18 or other connecting means. Thus, from the aforedescribed connecting means, it will be .seen that the head harness may be adjusted to fit the head of: any wearer, the upper strap being adjustable and secured by the same connecting means as the two adjustable end portions of the split band 15.

may be desirable to cover the split band 15 with a cushioning member 21 since the "band is preferably made of the material of which the body "portion is made, this material being stifi and also non-absorbent. The

cushioning member 21, besides having its cushioning efl'ect also may act as a sweat band. This latter band may be made of a soft leather and wrapped around the split band, there preferably being a felt padding there; between and the soft leather material being preferably secured to the split band by means of suitable snap buttons 22.

The bodv portion 10 of the helmet is secured to the head harness 14 indirectly as by means of an arm 23. This latter arm is pivotally mounted, as at 24, to the split band 15 of the head harness, the free end of the arm being adjustably connected,in a manner which will hereinafter be described, to the body'portion. The connection indicated as 24 is shown more particularly in Fig. 4 of the drawings and is a slip or frictional connection. A bolt 25 extends through the split band 15 and through the arm 23,

there being washers 26 on the bolt adjacent a '27. The washers 26 frictionally engage their respective band and arm members and since the band 15 is stationary on the head of the wearer, the arm 23 will resist any movement out of its rested position with the head harness. Therefore, when the body portion 10 of the helmet is raised over the head to a desired resting position, the action takes place against the resistance of the washers 26 which frictionally engage between the member that is being moved and the stationary member.

' In order toobtain a vertical and horizontal adjustment between the body portion of the helmet and the arm 23, a longitudinally extending slot 29 is provided in the arm together with a series of communicating vertically extending slots 30. A pair of connecting members 31, preferably bolts and nuts, engage the slots 29 and 30. The securing or connecting members 31 are fixed to the body portion and are spaceda distance equal to the spacing of alternate vertical slots 30 perhaps more desirable, to have two securing members 31 in order that the body portion 10' have a more definite relation with the arm member 23. However, it is conceivable that a single securing member may operate effectively and applicant'is not to be limited in the .scope of his invention to a securing means such as is herein specifically recited. Similarly, applicant has provided four vertically extending slots and it was thought that-that number is all that is required for all practical purposes, although it may be for convenience. It is more practical, and

1 after, when the securing members 31 register with the vertical slots 30, any desired vertical movement of the head portion v1O may be obtained. Any slight intermediate adjustment that may be desired can readily be obtained.

by means of pivoting the body portion 10 on the pivotal connection indicated as 24.

The sight opening 12 is provided with a lens support comprisin a main frame 32 having an inner outwar ly extending flange 33 secured to the body portion 10 as by means of rivets 'or the like. An outer inwardly extending flange 34 is provided on the lens support 32, acolored glass or commonly termed a welding lens 35 resting against the inner side thereof when in position. The welding lens, being of a comparatively expensive material is protected against injury by a cover glass or other protecting member 36 which latter rests against the outer side of the flange 34 and isheld in position thereagainst by means of an auxiliary frame 37. The welding lens is formed of a properly clouded or colored material for cutting off certain of the rays of light. The frame 37 is readily removable, it having a pair of spring fingers 38 for frictionally engaging protrusions 39 on the main frame 32. An inner cover or protecting glass 40 is held against the welding glass 35 by resilient means, the welding glass being urged snugly against the flange 34 in a manner so as to prevent any seepage of light around the edges thereof. The cover glass 40 is removable interiorly of the helmet, whereas the cover glass 36 is removable exteriorly of the helmet.

A retainer frame 41 is provided on the inside side of the helmet for urging the cover' .glass 40 against the welding lens 35. The

frame 41- comprises preferably a metallic stamping of rectangular shape. of a width to fit loosely between the inner ends of the frame 32; that is, a slight play is allowed between the ends of the frames 41 and 32 for reasons which will now be explained. The ends .of the frame 41 are bent over as at 42 to engage recessed portions of clips 43 which latter are secured to the body portion adjacent-the flange 33, preferably by the same rivets which hold the flange 33 tothe body portion 10. The clips 43 extend substantially the height of the frame 32. A pair of flat spring members 44 of the semi-elliptical type are provided on the frame 41, one end of the spring members being secured to the frame 41, the free ends thereof enga 'ng the inner cover glass 40. When it-is desired to remove the cover glass 40 from the lens support, the

retainer frame 41 is depressed against the tension of the flat spring 44 and is moved to one side or the other and then tilted so as to.

En adjustable chin rest is provided on the lower wall 11a, the chin rest 45 being preferably made of a singlestrip' of sheet fibre. The chin rest comprises a loop portion 46 intermediate two united end portions 47, the end portions being flat and having a longitudinally extending slot 49 therethrough. The end portions 47 rest against the lower wall 11a of the body portion 10, a screw 48 fixedly engaging therewith and extending throug the slot 49 to secure the chin rest in adesired position. The chin rest may now be pivoted on the screw member 48 or may be moved longia .when an operator bends forwardly the helmet v will have no tendency to fall from the head.

. As a result of this invention, a helmet has been provided which may be readily adjusted to fit the head of any wearer by means of the longitudinal slots 16, 17 and 20 in the ends of the split band 15 and strap 19 respectively. The body port-ion 10 of the helmet may be universally adjustable relative to the head harness whereby to adjust or to focus the lens for the particular eyes of the user by means of the arm 23 and its associated parts. When used in an upright position, the

novel chin rest of this invention may rest against the front of the chin although should the body chin rest is so adjustable, as to engage the under-side of the chin and prevent the helmet from falling forward. A readily accessible sight construction is also embodied herein, the protective covering for the welding lens subject to the greatest abuse being exteriorly removable by very simple means. Further, the welding lens is so positioned in the lens support, and the latter is so con! the loop portion 45 engages the of theuser be bent forwardly, the

structed, as to prevent any seepage of light around the edges of the lens to interfere with the operators vision.

While but a single embod ment of this inv vention is herein shown and described, it is to be understood that many modifications thereof will be appa'reribto those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention and, therefore,

the same is to-be limited only by the scope of the prior art and the appended claims.

I claim:

1." A helmet of the class described comprising a body portion adapted to encompass the face and partof the head, a head harness for holding said body" portion in. a desired position, and a" pair of arms pivotally mounted on opposite sides of said harness, said arms having horizontally and vertically extending intercommunicating slots, and connecting means adjustably engaging said slots in a horizontal and vertical direction and secured to said body portion whereby thelatteris universally adjustable.

2. A helmet of the class described comprising a body portion adapted to encompass the face and part of the head, a head harness for holding the body portion in a desired position, and a pair of arms pivotally mounted on opposite sides of said harness, said arms having a horizontally extending slot and a plurality of vertically extending intercommunicating slots, and connecting means adjustably engaging said slots in a horizontal and vertical direction and secured to said body portion whereby the latter is universally adjustable.

3. A helmet of the class described comprising a bodyportion adapted to encompass the face and part of the head, and a head harness of substantially rigid material for pivand a. strap secured at oneend thereof to.

said band for engaging the top of the head, the free ends of said split band and said strap having longitudinal slots for registration with each other to receive securing means whereby said harness is adjustable to fit any sized head.

I 5. A helmet of the class described comprising a body portion adapted to encompass the face and part ofthe head, a lens support secured. to said body portion adjacent an opening therein and having angled retaining flanges associated therewith, a welding lens in said support, protecting devices for said lens, and means for holding said lens'in a secure relation with said support comprising a frame fitting loosely between the ends of said support, spring means on said frame, and fingers on said frame formed at right protecting devices for said lens, and means for holding said lens in a secure relation with said support comprising a frame fitting loosely between the ends of said support, said frame having its outer ends formed at an angle to the body portion thereof, retaining members on said support having recessed portions for receiving said outer ends, and spring members on said frame for urging said frame in position against said retaining members whereby said frame is removed by depressingthe same against the tension of said spring members and tilting the ends of-said frame to disengage said retaining members.

i 7. A helmet of the.class described comprising a body portion adapted to encompass the face and part of the head, a lens support having a flange on its outer face, said support being secured to said body portion adjacent an, opening therein, a welding lens in position to rest against the inner side of said flange, a cover glass in position tofrest against the inner side of said welding lens, removable means for saidoover glass, a second cover glass in position to rest against the outer side ofsaid flange, and a frame for removably holding said second cover glass in position, said frame having fingers for frictionally engaging protrusions on said support.

8. A helmet of the class described comprising a body portion adapted to encompass the face and part .of the head, and a chin rest adj ustably secured to said body portion, said chin rest having a. protruding portion and a flat portion, said flat portion having a longitudinal' slot for receiving securing means whereby said protruding portion may be moved longitudinally and pivotally to englage either the front or the under side of the e nn.

9. A hehnet of the class described comprising a body portion adapted to encompass the face and part of the head, and achin rest adjustably secured to said body portion, said chin rest comprising a loop portion formed integrally with a flattened end portion, said end portion having a longitudinally extending slot therethrough, connecting means between said body portion and said slot whereby said loop portion may be pivoted to engage either the front or the under side of the chin,

andsaid loop portion may be moved forwardly or rearwardly to move the' helmet to a desired distance from the face.

10. A helmet of the class described comprising abody portion ada ted to encompass the face and part of the sad, and'a chin rest ad'ustably secured to said body portion, said 0 in rest comprising a loop portion intermediate two united end portions of a single strip of sheet material, said end portions havin longitudinally extending slots therethroug connecting means between said body portion and said slots whereby said loop portion may be pivoted to engage either the front or the under side of the chin, and said loop portion may be moved forwardly or rearwardly to move the helmet to a desired distance from the face.

11. A helmet of the'class described comprising a body portion adapted to encompass the face and part of the head, a head harness for holding said body portion in a desired position, and a pair of connecting members pivoted at one end tosaid harness and slidaconnected to said body portion at the ot er end so as to be verticall and horizontally adjustable with respect t ereto.

12. A helmet of the class described comprising a body portion adapted to encompass the face and part of the head, a head harness for holding said bod portion in a desired position, means extending throughsaid body rtion, and a pair of'rigld connecting memrs ivoted at one end to said harness and slida 1y connected to said means at the other end so as to be vertical] and horizontally adjustable with respect t ereto.

13. A helmet of the classdescribed comprising a body portion adapted to encompass the face and upper part of the head and having a part thereof extending inwardl beneath the chin, a chin rest slidably and ivotally mounted on said inwardly exten ing part and having an n wardly extending portion for engaging eit er front or underside of the chin and means for fixedly maintainlnghsaid chin-rest in desired position. witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

OSCAR S. FLOOD. 

